It’s the truth: Kids not always best witnesses

Family psychologist John Rosemond answers parents’ questions at www.rosemond.com.

Published: September 8, 2013;Last modified: September 8, 2013 04:00AM

The statute of limitations has expired concerning the following tale, so I can finally tell it.

In October of my now 40-something-year-old son Eric’s seventh-grade year, he informed me that he was probably going to get a D, maybe even an F, in English on his upcoming report card, and perhaps for the entire year.

“How’s that?” I asked.

“My teacher doesn’t like me, Dad,” he replied. He then launched into a litany of her many offenses against him, including blaming him for things he didn’t do, targeting him for unwarranted criticism, covering his best work with negative comments in dreaded red ink, and mocking his answers in front of the entire class.